Have you put the wrong fuel in your car? No need to feel stupid - plenty of drivers have done the same thing! Although fuel tanks are slightly different for petrol and diesel cars, it is easy to put petrol in your diesel and it is possible to put diesel in your petrol car.
You may have recently changed vehicles, or if maybe you suffered from a lapse in attention and manage to top your car up with the wrong fuel – it is a mistake that is relatively easy to make, but it doesn’t have to be too serious – just follow our advice!
What Happens When You Use the Wrong Fuel?
It is most common for diesel car owners to put petrol in their car than vice versa – this is because petrol nozzles fit easily in most diesel tank necks. If you put petrol in a diesel car, you can cause serious damage. Diesel is a lubricant and helps to lubricate the engine as it runs. Petrol has the opposite effect and causes friction within the engine (this is why diesel engines tend to last longer than petrol ones). The more petrol that gets pumped through your diesel system, the worse (and more costly) the damage, so it is important that you stop as soon as you realise your error.
It is harder to put diesel in a petrol car, because a diesel nozzle is wider than most petrol tank necks. If you do manage to put diesel in your petrol vehicle, the consequences aren’t quite so bad. Diesel and petrol work differently: diesel compresses to ignite and petrol burns through a spark generated by the spark plugs. If you put diesel in your petrol engine, it is likely that the diesel will clog your spark plugs, so your car won’t start. While inconvenient, not enough diesel gets in the petrol system to cause serious damage.
As Soon as You Realise Your Mistake...
- If you notice your mistake before you have set off, don’t do anything. Take the keys out of the ignition so that you’re not tempted to start your car. Once the wrong fuel gets into your car’s engine, the damage caused will be serious.
- Put your car into neutral and get help pushing it to a safe place.
- Contact a local garage or, if you have it and you are covered, your vehicle recovery service, and tell them your problem – they will be with you as soon as possible.
The best way to stop yourself from using the wrong fuel is to check (and double check) EVERY time you fill up. We all have moments when we lose concentration – but don’t let your moment cost you a fortune. If you have filled up using the wrong fuel, use our app on Android or Apple to find the nearest reliable garage near you.
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